Wenger unhappy with dropped points - 7M sport

Wenger unhappy with dropped points

Posted Sunday, October 25, 2009 by PA

Arsene Wenger lamented the way Arsenal failed to hold off the late challenge of a battling West Ham side after letting a 2-0 lead slip at Upton Park.

The Gunners had looked in complete control following first-half goals from Robin van Persie and William Gallas.

However, Carlton Cole pulled a goal back following a free-kick, before substitute Alessandro Diamanti netted a late penalty.

West Ham finished with 10 men when Scott Parker was shown a second yellow card, but were not to be denied a much-needed positive result as England goalkeeper Robert Green - at fault for the opener - produced a fine reaction save from Van Persie's bullet header in stoppage time.

Had Arsenal held on, it would have been their fifth straight victory in the Barclays Premier League, and made more of Manchester United's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool.

Wenger accepted it was a "major missed opportunity".

The Arsenal manager said: "We were in control, but as long as you do not score the third goal, you know the game is not won.

"In fairness, West Ham continued to fight until the last minute and we conceded from two set pieces, which were generous ones.

"I do not think that either should have been given, but we cannot influence the decision of the referee.

"The crowd got behind the referee's decision and then it is always difficult away from home.

"We are an intelligent team and an intelligent team makes the maximum result with the game they produce. That is what we did not do.

"We complicated our game a little bit and had five or six chances in the second half, but we missed the final ball. That is what we have to learn."

After Liverpool inflicted holders Manchester United's second loss of the season, Wenger reflected on two points dropped for his third-placed team.

"It is very frustrating," he added.

"It is, of course, a major missed opportunity. In our job, you don't have this luxury.

"You need to get points when you deserve to get points and sometimes when you don't deserve to get the points.

"We never got them when we deserved them - and that means we have not made the maximum of what we should have done.

"But we have to keep the positives as we played well and are a strong team.

"We want to learn to finish these games off which is basically the most important lesson of the day.

"We have a great chance [for the title] this year, but you cannot repeat this kind of performance we had and not come out with three points."

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola praised the fighting spirit of his team.

The introduction of both Diamanti and England Under-21 international Zavon Hines helped inject fresh impetus to the Hammers frontline.

Zola said: "It is not a victory, but it sounds like it with the crows, and that is what I was looking for.

"No matter what, the spirit has to be there all the time. That is something we can not do without.

"Last week [at Stoke] I saw something, a change and it is very important and I have seen something more.

"It was very difficult to come back from that situation, but we did it and I am very pleased and proud of them.

"I am more focused on the point and to give a signal we are there and we are fighting."

While the Hammers - who have not won in the league since the opening day - remain in the bottom three, the Italian coach feels he has enough to be positive for the challenges ahead.

He added after the match: "Today was difficult and we did it and that means we can do it all the time," he said.

"With that spirit and with the qualities we have in the team, I think we can do better things starting today."

Zola added: "This team has got quality. We just need a bit more confidence.

"Now, every time we make a mistake they score. That does not help. We need to fight, fight, fight."

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